the economic ignorance in this thread is astounding
If most of that went to the driver I would be OK with it. I never use those services, they exploit workers
I only do when my daughter is staying somewhere and doesn’t have food to eat. That’s rare, but it has happened a few times.
Today we are learning about economies of scale, kids!
One is a service paid for with tax money, the other a for-profit business.
Wonder if the postal service could be for profit somehow, seems like a lost opportunityIn North America, USPS and Canada Post both are solely self funded. They are not (ordinarily) funded through tax money. USPS has had bailouts, but that’s not really different from a for profit company, sadly.
Crazy, our postal office is tax funded
It isn’t really.
UPS and FedEx cost the same though.
They don’t unless you have a good contract with them and even then it’s dependent on zones and package size.
Fun fact: USPS acknowledges that our US territories are domestic while UPS and FedEx treat them as international. So its a little more of a chore and cost to ship to Puerto Rico and the like through anyone but USPS from the 50 states.
I don’t have any contracts with them and it’s usually about the same cost for USPS or UPS via ground for like a 12" square box for example. USPS might be like 5% less on average.
I honesty don’t understand how they are still a service. Who pays for that?
From personal experience living with a roommate that makes good money… People that can’t cook, but have good money.
I mean, the one on the left side is subsidized?
It’s not
It used to be, but it isn’t anymore.
No, ironically the one on the right was running at a loss for ages. If you were the only driver in a town, you could get UberEats to pay you to deliver food to yourself.
Even if it is, private companies cost the same
Look at that money on the table! Of course we should privatize the USPS!
(/s of course)
This is a perfect illustration of why we should not privatize essential services.
Thankfully food delivery isn’t essential, therefore it should be privatized (preferably by a restaurant that delivers to places hundreds of miles away by plane)
We probably shouldn’t, but this is a terrible example why.
You pay 30usd for the food delivery? In the UK it usually is few quid.
We don’t, unless it’s alot of food. So much food in fact that the equivalent sized package would cost more than $10.50 for USPS to take 3+ days to deliver.
I love USPS but this whole thread makes people look like they’ve been huffing markers all afternoon.
It’s all a racket here. The cost off the food is typically higher than the restaurants menu price, then there’s an upcharged service fee, separate delivery fee, and tip. So, by the time you’re done, you just paid double for that $12-15 item, and Uber eats is the worst of the bunch.
I’m sure the food is cheaper if you ordered it more than 24h beforehand
If there was a service like this, I’d probably buy there every day. I can plan 1-2 days ahead what I’d like to eat, but more is harder. This would be perfect.
there are like subscription services that deliver partially prepared meals to your door
one of the food delivery service I used tried to offer this, but that is extremely limited in availability and does not cover my address so I never get to use it.
I’m offering budget food delivery. 3 day delivery guaranteed.
And somehow USPS can still pay their couriers more.
Shhh, Musk might hear you and destroy it.
USPS should not focus on profitability and fuck Uber and the gig economy.
I figured out how to get my food with NO delivery fee: I get off my fat ass and get it myself. Novel approach, I know.
I’m happy that you are physically able, that you have places within walking distance to pick the food up from, or if not that you own a vehicle and are not vision impaired or afflicted with some other ailment that would make driving impossible. I hope you reflect on how fortunate you are.
Jesus christ. When you piss does it come out like a corkscrew?
I do, all the time.
My point was that most people are able to procure their own food without paying exorbitant fees for it; in their case, I consider it lazy and wasteful. That’s also my opinion, and people are free to apply their own judgement.
It was a completely reasonable take and everyone understood what you meant.
Only on lemmy would someone try to paint an exploitative middleman like UberEats as a noble service for those unable to journey to the store.
There are actually services that do that and they don’t charge a 30% markup. That actually seems even more exploitative and you’d think the other commenter would be enraged at Uber.
Such is the price for a popular top-level comment. I suffer so that those who must always be the contrarian can satisfy their unrelenting urges. Today, it is my internet cross to bear.
How exactly did I attempt to paint Uber Eats (who is absolutely an exploitative middleperson) as a “noble service?”
I’m happy that you are physically able, that you have places within walking distance to pick the food up from, or if not that you own a vehicle and are not vision impaired or afflicted with some other ailment that would make driving impossible
The implication being that thankfully for UberEats people who aren’t physically able, don’t have places within walking distance, don’t own a vehicle, or are vision impaired or afflicted with some other ailment that makes driving impossible, they can get their food delivered.
UberEats is a cancer and honestly, everyone I’ve known who’s disabled or on a fixed income in some way couldn’t afford the insane markup.
That’s not at all what I implied or meant but thank you for assuming I’m the worst person ever for pushing back against someone being proud they can just get off their ass and pick up food.
Yes, Uber Eats is a cancer but I’ve known people to count down to the cents so their account won’t be overdrawn so that they can order one hot meal delivered. Yes I absolutely think it is in the monetization plans of all the delivery apps to take advantage of people in that situation, I was just trying to point out “get off your ass and pick it up” isn’t a viable option for everyone. Also, not everyone is the best at math or managing their money.
Me who is physically disabled and can’t leave my house: 👁️👄👁️
And sometimes you’re too tired for that or want something you can’t reasonably make at home. There’s nothing wrong with ordering food.
Nothing wrong with it rarely or if you’re disabled, but paying $30 for McDonald’s or whatever on a regular basis is insane
There’s zero indication that OP is ordering delivery often, so I’m not sure why you have jumped to that conclusion?
Besides, whether or not ordering delivery often depends on what you’re ordering and on your disposable income. McDonald’s is far from the only option, plenty of real restaurants offer delivery too these days. If you can afford it, you can probably eat a fairly healthy diet even if you never cook. Not for me, in no small part because I usually enjoy cooking, but I’m not gonna judge people who don’t. Doesn’t affect me, I’m not gonna go out of my way to be annoyed.
My post was in no way attacking OP. I was just soapboxing about food delivery services that charge insane fees for something which, in my opinion, is mostly useless.
I fully admit I’m being judgmental. And people are free to disagree with me.
So I don’t really understand why you are paying so much for food? Looking at the local delivery app, I just now chose a “big Mac mcmenue” containing a big Mac, fries and a 0.5l drink. This would cost me 10,89€, let’s say 13€ with a very generous tip.
At this moment it seems 13€ are worth $13,48. What are you ordering that costs more than double of that?
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Almost everyone on uber eats (and similar services) mark up their items. This sausage burrito meal is $10 on uber eats and is 8 something in store
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Delivery fee 5.99
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tip (whatever you want to pay)
For a normal meal this will more than double the price. Order just about anything else and you’re easily at $30 with still almost half the price being the delivery.
That’s crazy
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Not everyone is ordering for a single person.
What are you ordering that costs more than double of that?
Two Big Mac Menus? And some chicken nuggets.
So people in the USA just eat a lot?
Another stereotype confirmed I guess
Food was cheap for a long time, and mental healthcare is prohibitively expensive.
Much more financially responsible to eat one’s feelings.
I know some in Europe as well. A colleague from work regularly eats a large menu with an additional burger and chicken nuggets for lunch.
Sorry mate, it’s just the Americans that are fat
Removed by mod
“Nothing wrong with ordering food” - correct
But there is something wrong with paying double to have it delivered - it’s called wasting money. Do y’all have a lot of money to waste?
I’d rather “waste” some money instead of my time picking it up … or even worse, shopping and cooking.
there’s nothing wrong with it but it’s a luxury service so you shouldn’t complain about it being expensive
DoorDash is a hell of a lot cheaper than catching a DUI charge tho
Novel approach, I know.
In digest form, I presume?
It is not that easy for everyone. I for example can’t afford a car. And restaurants aren’t exactly around the corner. So if i want to get food like that, i have to have it delivered.
What about public transport?
5 euros is cheaper for delivery than 15 for a train ticket. Its not that big of a deal honestly. I don’t know the pricing in america but its not to bad where i live. The food itself is becoming way to expensive though.
I only order food a few times a year so its no problem.
I get off my fat ass
But the entire point of having it delivered is so you can keep sitting on it.
How much is same-day courier service though?
Not just same day, same hour. That 1/3 cost comes with a 50x delay.
the postal system is significantly more efficient
